Oklahoma lawmaker unveils school safety package

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma lawmaker is promoting school safety measures he says will allow school districts to use local dollars to improve security.

Democratic Rep. Joe Dorman of Rush Springs says one measure would seek voter approval of a new type of bond issue that school districts could use to fund safety upgrades or hire safety officers to improve school security. The bond measure would be capped to protect against frivolous expenditures.

Another measure would allow schools to use fingerprint background checks of anyone interacting with students in school-sponsored activities, including volunteers. Dorman says schools cannot currently conduct the checks unless specifically authorized by state law.

Dorman says he wants the Oklahoma Commission on School Security to consider his ideas as it develops its own legislative recommendations for state lawmakers to consider.

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